Sunday, March 1, 2015

Too Much Fun Is Bad For You?

Hermiting is not an option here.

In Spain, people do not want to stay home all day. Even if they simply take a walk after a meal, most of them NEED to get out of the house. Interestingly, even when it's 2 degrees in winter, a lot of them feel a need to eat outside on the terazza, too - bundled up in coats, without heat lamps.

Going out and socializing is a big part of Spanish culture. But when you're trying to save up money for a summer of unemployment, or for future plans, sticking to a budget can be tough. Living in Jaén has the huge advantage of "free" tapas with every drink, sometimes even when the beverage is non-alcoholic. But if you're going out every day of every weekend, it can add up. Throw in trips to other parts of Spain, and you're hooped.

There are ways to save money, of course. My list includes:

- eating at home before going out- finding free events, or having potluck dinners- travelling to cities where I know someone with whom I can stay with- Blablacar- flashing my student card every time I visit a popular tourist spot- flashing my flirty smile to score a free drink (kidding, kidding....)

Are there other ways you save money and balance being social at the same time?